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Texas is said to mean "We are friends." One account tells of some local Indians putting "Texas" as a response to a question by a Spanish explorer. It is pretty certain that "Texas" is an Indian name, but beyond that little can be said. However, popular belief is that the word means "friends" (hence the state motto-"Friendship").
Nicknames: Lone Star State Data: Total area 256,896 sq. miles; water, 3,498 sq. miles. 2nd largest state! Motto: Friendship State Flower: Bluebonnet Main Rivers: Canadian, Red, Rio Grande, Pecos, Brazos, Colorado, Guadalupe, Neches, Sabine, Trinity, Nueces, and San Jacinto. Mountain Ranges: There are some low elevation mountains in the west. Lumber includes mostly yellow pine, also cypress, oak, and tupelo. Topography: Boundaries; N., New Mexico, Oklahoma (Red River); E., Arkansas, Louisiana (Sabine River); Gulf of Mexico; S., Gulf of Mexico, Mexico (Rio Grande); W., Mexico (Rio Grande), New Mexico. Elevation: Lowest, Gulf of Mexico, sea level; highest, Guadalupe Peak, 8,751 ft.; average, 1,700 ft.. 600 miles of shoreline with the Gulf of Mexico, with many sand-bars, peninsulas, and islands. Many lagoons and bays, including Galveston Bay. Extensive prairie grazing lands. Agriculture: Raising livestock is very important. Many cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, and goats. The crops include cotton, corn, wheat, sorghum, cane, oranges, grapefruit, oats, peanuts, pecans, and other varieties of fruits and vegetables from temperate to the semi-tropical kinds. Extensive dairy farming and poultry raising. Manufacturing includes: Refined petroleum, meat products lumber products, flour and grain products, paper, metal products, garments, railroad construction and repair, electronics, shipping. Geology: Minerals: Petroleum is one of the most important, also natural gas, cement products, clay products, sand, gravel, building stone, gypsum, asphalt, suphur, coal, silver, mercury, iron, manganese, zinc, tin, lead, copper, and potash. Leading Cities: Huston, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, El Paso, Galveston, Beaumont, Wichita Falls, Waco, Austin (capital), Abilene, Port Arthur, Amarillo, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Laredo, San Angelo, and Lubbock.
Climate- Warm, moist, and equable along the southern coast; drier in the west and southwest; climate becomes more variable inland. Average annual temperature: 73 degrees in the lower Rio Grande valley, 55 degreed in the northern part of the "panhandle." Annual rainfall: 46 inches at Galveston, only nine inches at El Paso; about 20 to 25 inches of moisture in the panhandle, but very little along the coast.
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Events- Search Texas Events. Click Here!
Food- Traditional American food in most communities. Spanish food is abundant. There is some Basque foods in different areas. Chinese food is also prevalent.
Foreign Visitors- Foreigners entering the United States must carry two documents: A valid Passport, expiring not less than 6 months prior to the scheduled end of their visit to the U.S.; and a tourist visa obtainable at any American consulate at no charge. Anyone applying for an immigrant's visa must obtain a screening test for the AIDS-HIV virus. This test does not apply to tourists. Any visitor with a medical condition that requires treatment with narcotics or with paraphernalia must carry a valid, signed prescription from their doctor. Travel insurance is optional in the US but required by most car rental companies. See our link on money conversion for foreign guests.
History- Six different flags have flown over Texas, however, there have been eight changes in government. Spanish 1519-1685, French 1685-1690, Spanish 1690-1821, Mexican 1821-1836, Republic of Texas 1836-1845, United States 1845-1861, Confederate States 1861-1865, United States 1865-present. Corpus Christi de la Isleta, was established in 1682 near El Paso. It was the first Spanish mission and pueblo in Texas. Several famous battles took place in Texas: The Battle of the Alamo, lasting 12 days ended March 6, 1836, with the deaths of all 190 of its defenders. The Mexican army of Santa Anna numbering 4,000 to 5,000 men overwhelmed the mission after several days of standoff. Davie Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Travis were among the dead. A massacre of Texans who had surrendered at Goliad on March 27 led to the battle cry of Texas' independence, "Remember the Alamo! The Battle of San Jacinto fought in April 1836 near the present city of Houston. Santa Anna's entire force of 1,600 men was routed by Gen. Sam Houston's army of 800 Texans; only nine Texans were killed. This decisive battle secured Texas' independence from Mexico. Sam Houston was elected twice as president of the Republic and once as the governor. Texas A&M University was opened in October of 1876, and was the state's first land-grant college. Spindletop, near Beaumont in East Texas, was the site of the first oil well discovery in Texas in 1901.
Language- English, Spanish
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Money- US Currency - Currency conversion from: www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet
Parks- (Search State Parks) Search the State Website (Click Here!), (WorldTourist Search Page-Nat. Parks)
Recreation- Search Texas Recreation. Click Here!
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Seasons- Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter!
Tours- Contact us to add your tour company here!
Travel- This country is big and best seen by private auto!
Tips- In the high country early spring and Fall snow storms can catch you unaware, be prepared!
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